VISIT FROM THE BISHOP TO YEAR 12

Yesterday, Bishop Brian Mascord met with our Year 12 students. This initiative has occurred (in different iterations) in recent years, and it was a wonderful chance for our entire Year 12 cohort and then our 16 Year 12 Student Leaders in Portfolio positions to hear from the Bishop and receive his good wishes as the year unfolds.  

Bishop Mascord was incredibly generous and brave in his presentation. He opened up to them about his life and allowed them to ask whatever questions they wanted. Various answers covered his life experiences, family relationships, his time as an educator, and the nature of hope and future aspirations. Year 12 asked some excellent questions and was thankful for his honest and personable approach. The Bishop also prayed for our Year 12s, who are so close to commencing their HSC Trial Examinations.

Following the whole cohort talk, the Bishop learned more about our Year 12 Leaders' study, career, and life aspirations. Good questions continued to be asked, and it was great for our Leaders to have such a great example presented to them.

Our Year 12 cohort's behavior during the visit was exemplary. They demonstrated their respect and appreciation for the opportunity. They fully engaged in the gathering, which is commendable. Please find the photographs of the event included here.

Friends of Francis

Thank you to all parents and carers who attended Monday night's Friends of Francis meeting. It was a good opportunity to explore the new structures and get updates about the Group and the College.

The first facilitators for the Friends of Francis have now been appointed, and I thank them for their efforts moving forward:

• Mrs Kate Acosta (Friends of Francis Facilitator)
• Ms Antonija Barisic (Friends of Francis Fundraising Facilitator)
• Mrs Maria Spiros (Friends of Francis Social/Community Facilitator)

Details about the College’s new buildings and opportunities for questions and answers were provided.

The Draft Constitution of the Friend of Francis was discussed briefly, and there was discussion around possible future fundraising and/or social activities.

I am very excited about what this group can achieve moving forward.

Year 5 Catholic Care Puberty Information Evening

Thank you to the students, parents, and carers of Year 5. Anneliese Alexander, Relationship Educator from CatholicCare, presented very informative information. She did so from a place of Biology but also respectful relationships and the Catholic lens.

Opportunities for questions and answers were provided in a safe forum, and much was achieved throughout the night.

Confirmation

Congratulations to all our students who received the sacrament of Confirmation on the weekend.

Two beautiful masses were conducted by Bishop Mascord, Father Bosco and Father Joseph (in the second mass) at our Mary Mother of the Church Parish Church on Saturday

It was wonderful for our young people to commit to their faith and do so with their beloved friends and family.

I would like to thank our staff who attended the Confirmation Masses on Saturday: Miss Meli, Mrs M Vella, Mrs Agostino, Mr Robinson, Mrs Khoury, Mrs Crescini, Mrs Ghignone

Additionally, I thank all staff involved in training confirmation candidates (Mrs Khoury, Mrs Crescini, Mrs Ghignone, Miss Meli, Ms Mosca and Mrs Brites).

MOVING DAYS - PUPIL FREE DAYS

Please remember that only Year 12 (i.e., no students from K-11) will be at school on the last day of this term (Friday, July 5th), and no students (K-12) will be at school on Monday, July 22nd.

The College is very excited about our new buildings.

Please note that NORMAL kiss-and-drop arrangements will exist for the first 3 -4 weeks of Term 3. Our new car park and kiss and drop areas will not be accessible until Stage 7 (Library, internal roads and landscaping) is complete.

PRAYER

The beauty of the Psalms always strikes me. Sometimes, when we look for a prayer, we may overcomplicate things - yet the Psalms have it all - gratitude, recognition of God’s love, and his glory. Psalm 95 is no exception:

PSALM 95

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;

cry out to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before Him with a song of praise,

joyfully sing out our psalms.

For the LORD is the great God,

the great king over all gods,

Whose hand holds the depths of the earth;

who owns the tops of the mountains.

The sea and dry land belong to God,

who made them, formed them by hand.

Enter, let us bow down in worship;

let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For He is our God,

we are the people he shepherds,

the sheep in His hands.